Apparatus for packaging coins

ABSTRACT

Coins of different amounts are separated by size and then stacked by hand on top of a movable support beneath which is placed a coin package which may be a plastic tube or wound paper tube. The number of coins is determined by the height of the stack to the top of the selected mark and excess coins are removed quickly by scooping out of a depression. A solid block of plastic may be molded or drilled with a line of vertical bores each representing a coin of a different size (and amount) and the height of the bore determines the number of coins. The block is attached to a base made from plastic or wood and on top of a frame with semi-circular, vertical grooves complimentary to a coin tube and in which tubes are placed beneath the respective bore, but separated by a sliding release plate in which there is a hole corresponding with the respective bore. A saucer-shaped depression leads to each bore whereby excess coins are scooped out. Coins are stacked by hand in each bore until the proper height is reached and then the respective plate is moved by hand to release the coins to the respective tube.

United States Patent Green, Jr. July 25, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING COINS Primary Examiner-Robert L. Spruill [72] Inventor: William E. Green, Jr., Rockdale County, Attorney-Patrick Henry near Conyers, Ga.

[73] Assignee: The Citizens and Southern National Bank, [57] ABSTRACT Atlanta! Coins of different amounts are separated by size and then [22] Filed; June 22, 1970 stacked by hand on top ofa movable support beneath which is placed a coin package which may be a plastic tube or wound PP 43,136 paper tube. The number of coins is determined by the height of the stack to the top of the selected mark and excess coins are removed quickly by scooping out of a depression A solid [52] US 53/254 block of plastic may be molded or drilled with a line of vertical bores each representing a coin of a different size (and 2: 3 amount) and the height of the bore determines the number of I l o arc 1 8 coins. The block is attached to a base made from plastic or wood and on top of a frame with semi-circular, vertical grooves complimentary to a coin tube and in which tubes are [56] Relerenm cued placed beneath the respective bore, but separated by a sliding UNITED STATES PATENTS release plate in which there is a hole corresponding with the respective bore. A saucer-shaped depression leads to each 961,473 6/ l 910 Abbott i ..5 3/254 X bore whereby excess coins are scooped out. Coins are stacked 1864,386 12/1958 Allen .t 53/254 X by hand in each bore until the proper height is reached and 2,620, l 09 12/1952 Smathers i t ..53/254 then the respective plate is moved by hand to release the coins 2,489,765 I l/l949 Emerson et al. ..53/254 X to the respective tube. 2523,08; 9/1950 Block ..53/254 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 22l,602 l 1/1958 Australia ..l33/l A Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,650

3 Sheets-Sheet l Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,650

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 UVVE VTOK WILLIAM E. GREENJR ATTORNEY Patented July 25, 1972 l/VVE/V7'0K WILUAM E. GR EN APPARATUS roa PACKAGING COINS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Coin sorters and counters. Also, generally the field of packaging vertically stacked merchandise.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are many automatic sorters which separate coins into the different denominations. These are fine machines for intended purpose and cost and are not replaced by the present device which is intended for more manual operation and at a cost and simplicity of operation to reach small businesses. banks and establishments. Prior art coin packaging machines are relatively expensive and complex machinery and some are power driven. Most coin sorting for small establishments, and even for banks, is done by hand and a lot is done by the deposit customer sometimes in a hurry on the floor of the bank ready to make a deposit. Usually the coins are spread on the table and by hand separated into denominations and then manually inserted into the coin package which is a slow and sometimes inaccurate operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Unlike complicated power driven coin sorting or packaging machines which are very satisfactory but relatively expensive and too complicated for the ordinary customer to operate without prior training, the present device is a simple arrangement with only one set of working parts-the coin release plates which are pulled like a small drawer. Stacking is accomplished by feeding coins into the bores in the block and scooping out the excess and then alter positioning of the tube, releasing the coin stack. It is unnecessary to count the coins as when putting into a coin tube or to rely on the mark on the tube which depends upon packing the coins properly since the present device selected the proper stack by the size of the bore and the heights, and after coin release the coin tubes are ready for sealing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the present coin packing device, with a hand illustrating the placement of a coin tube.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken horizontally in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view the same as FIG. 2 except with the coin release plate in release position.

FIG. 4 is a substantially vertical, longitudinal cross-sectional view taken thru the device in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 55 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a dis-assembled assembly view of the parts of the coin device in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFFERED EMBODIMENT The coin packaging device is referred to generally by reference numeral 10 and comprises a coin receiving means in the form of a block 12 of wood, plastic or other material in which there is defined a row or line of vertically disposed passages or bores 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d representing different size coins and each respective bore being in diameter equivalent to that coin. From the flat top 16 of block 12 each bore l4a, etc. has a dish-shaped entrance 17 by means of which coins that are excess over the amount to fill the bore 140 etc. are readily scooped out by hand.

Immediately beneath the block 12 is the assembly of coin release means which comprises an arrangement 18 of movable plates 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d corresponding respectively to the respective coin bore 140 etc. and each having a hole 22 larger than the corresponding coin bore 140 etc. in a movable plate 20a etc. attached to a spring retainer member 26 by means of respective springs 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d. Each plate 200 etc. slides in a respective channel 32 formed in a channel plate 34 which has a hole 360 etc. larger than and corresponding to the respective coin from the respective coin bore l4 so that when hole 22 is normally out of alignment with the respective bore 14a etc. (when the spring is in retracted, normal nonoperating position in FIG. 2) coins stacked in the respective bore 14:: etc. will not fall through but when the plate 200 etc.

is pulled by a small handle 38 thereon against the spring 300 etc., the holes 22a etc. align with a respective hole 36a etc., as

seen in FIG. 3, and coins in the respective bore etc. will fall through by the weight thereof.

Plates 20a etc. are aligned in channels 32 by means of small grooves 40 in each plate 200 etc. in which projects a pin 42. Springs 300 etc. are recessed in a groove 44. As seen in the drawings, block 12 is assembled with holes 144 etc. immediately above the respective hole 22 and the entire arrangement 1! is attached to the block 12 in close association.

The block 12 is supported on a base 50 which is a flat rectangular member of wood, plastic or the like framed around the border 52 and may be approximately 18 inches long and 10 inches wide in one form suitable for placement on the counter of a bank. A coin tube support arrangement 54 is mounted in the base 50 and the support arrangement 54 supports the block 12 and channel plate 34 and the other pans. The coin tube support arrangement comprises a vertical plate member 58 having a second plate member 60 thereon in which is formed a number of coin tube channels 62 corresponding with the holes l4a, 21, and 36 and aligned therewith when the coins are released. The position of a tube 68, which may be any conventional tube of plastic or paper or the like available at banks and other places, is shown in FIGS. 1, S, and 6. Transverse grooves 70 are formed in the plate 60 to provide spaces in which the fingers 72 of the hand 74 may be moved for positioning and removal of the coin tubes 68. The tubes 68 may be inserted slightly into the bottom 36a etc. so as to hold them firmly in place while coins are dropped.

Nickels, dimes, pennies, quarters, etc. (or foreign coins like shilling, kroner, etc.) are dropped by hand into a respective opening in bore [41: etc. until the stack builds up to the top at which time excess coins above the top of the bore where the dish-shaped arrangement [7 begins are scooped out by hand. Suppose a customer enters a bank with a sack of coins unsorted: the device M is on a counter and the customer removes the coins, separates the coins while simultaneously dropping them into the respective bore 140 etc. As soon as ready, tubes 68 are positioned beneath each outlet 360 etc. and when each bore is filled (or when all are filled as preferred by the customer) the respective, movable release plate 20 is operated and the coin stack drops into the respective tube 68 which has already determined the proper number of coins in each tube (e.g., $5.00 in dimes, $3.00 in nickels, etc.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention together with suggested operation and use thereof, this is by way of illustration only and does not constitute any sort of limitation on the scope thereof since there are various changes, alterations, omissions, departures, additions, revisions, and deviations which may be made therein without departing from the scope of the interpretation of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a coin packaging device which uses coin packages of paper or plastic each being a self-supporting open-ended tube of a size to hold a certain coin:

a. a coin receiving means comprising an arrangement of side-by-side coin pasages defined substantially vertically on a common support on said device and each coin passage having a predetermined vertical measurement representing a certain number of coins for that denomination there being an open top to each coin passage,

. a respective coin release means for each stack of coins in said respective passage and said coin release means comprising a movable member beneath and supporting that respective stack and normally closing the bottom opening beneath said stack to prevent said coins being discharged vertically by gravity until said movable member is actuated by hand,

c. a coin tube support arrangement on said device having means thereon for receiving and aligning the open end of a coin tube substantially vertically beneath a respective coin release means to receive coins falling by gravity from the stack in a passage directly from the open communication when said movable member is operated by hand,

d. said coin passages have a bottom opening projecting in alignment over the open entrance to the coin package when in place, and said coin packages being positioned in a cavity corresponding somewhat to the curvature thereof to locate said tube beneath said bottom opening,

. said coin release movable members each being a plate mounted for sliding, reciprocating motion like a drawer to be inserted and retracted into position and normally being inserted to block the opening.

i. said plates having an opening therein through which coins are dropped, there being other fixed openings in fixed position beneath said passages and aligned with said tubes whereby said plates block said openings and prevent said opening in said plate from matching with said opening fixed in inserted position but matching when withdrawn.

2. The device in claim I, said coin release plates being spring biased into normally retracted, closed position, and said fixed openings being in a fixed member having a channel therein in which is mounted said plate for sliding movement.

3. The device in claim 2, said spring being recessed in a groove and there being a stop pin arrangement to prevent complete withdrawal of said plate and to locate the extent of insertion.

4. The device in claim I: there being a solid portion around each of the entrances to each coin passage and a cavity in said solid portion larger than the entrance whereby excess coins are swept away by hand leaving the uppermost coin flush with the top of the passage as a means of measuring the number of coins in the stack. 

1. In a coin packaging device which uses coin packages of paper or plastic each being a self-supporting open-ended tube of a size to hold a certain coin: a. a coin receiving means comprising an arrangement of side-byside coin passages defined substantially vertically on a common support on said device and each coin passage having a predetermined vertical measurement representing a certain number of coins for that denomination there being an open top to each coin passage, b. a respective coin release means for each stack of coins in said respective passage and said coin release means comprising a movable member beneath and supporting that respective stack and normally closing the bottom opening beneath said stack to prevent said coins being discharged vertically by gravity until said movable member is actuated by hand, c. a coin tube support arrangement on said device having means thereon for receiving and aligning the open end of a coin tube substantially vertically beneath a respective coin release means to receive coins falling by gravity from the stack in a passage directly from the open communication when said movable member is operated by hand, d. said coin passages have a bottom opening projecting in alignment over the open entrance to the coin package when in place, and said coin packages being positioned in a cavity corresponding somewhat to the curvature thereof to locate said tube beneath said bottom opening, e. said coin release movable members each being a plate mounted for sliding, reciprocating motion like a drawer to be inserted and retracted into position and normally being inserted to block the opening, f. said plates having an opening therein through which coins are dropped, there being other fixed openings in fixed position beneath said passages and aligned with said tubes whereby said plates block said openings and prevent said opening in said plate from matching with said opening fixed in inserted position but matching when withdrawn.
 2. The device in claim 1, said coin release plates being spring biased into normally retracted, closed position, and said fixed openings being in a fixed member having a channel therein in which is mounted said plate for sliding movement.
 3. The device in claim 2, said spring being recessed in a groove and there being a stop pin arrangement to prevent complete withdrawal of said plate and to locate the extent of insertion.
 4. The device in claim 1: there being a solid portion around each of the entrances to each coin passage and a cavity in said solid portion larger than the entrance whereby excess coins are swept away by hand leaving the uppermost coin flush with the top of the passage as a means of measuring the number of coins in the stack. 